Domed top coffin and blank



Jan. 20, 1970 R. E. CONNELLY ET AL 3,490,114

DOMED TOP COFFIN AND BLANK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 v INVENTORS ROBERT E. CONNELLY STEPHEN A. HERBETKO BY %M 4m ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1970 R. E. CONNELLY ET AL 3,49

DOMED TOP COFFIN AND BLANK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8. 1965 INVENTORS ROBERT E. CONNELLY STEPHEN A. HERBETKO ATTORNEY Jan. 20, 1970 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 R. E. CONNELLY ET AL DOMED TOP COFFIN AND BLANK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ROBERT E. "CONNELLY STEPHEN A. HERBETKO ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 272 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cofiin top is made of a cut and scored blank of fiber board, and has domed shape. The cofiin top may be in either one or two sections.

One of the important factors in the cost of a funeral where a body is to be buried, rather than cremated, is the cost of the coffin. Heretofore, coffins have varied in ornateness, material and cost, but for people of limited circumstances, it is desirable to provide a coffin having the lowest possible cost. To this end, plain wooden cofiins are utilized as being the most economical.

When coffins are selected, however, appearance is an important factor and many people have shown marked preference for a coffin having a domed top configuration. However, the domed top has led to more expensive constructions, even in simple wooden cofiins, and have resulted in either the foregoing of the desired appearance, or the expenditure of more money than is desirable to achieve the desired coffin appearance.

While there has been previously suggested the construction of domed top coffins of corrugated fiber board, little if any actual production of such colfins has been achieved in this country, possibly due to the expensive construction utilized.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coflin of economical material having a domed top.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a coffin made of fiber board and having a domed top.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a domed top cofiin of fiber board having a top made from a minimum of individual parts.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a blank for a domed top coffin which may be manufactured on conventional fiber board machinery, and which may be erected with a minimum of manhours of labor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a domed top for a coffin and a blank therefor which is of the split-top type.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a coffin of economical material having a domed top which may be economically fabricated and assembled.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a domed top cofiin in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank for making the domed top shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the coflin shown in FIG- URE l, with the coffin top closed.

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation of the cofiin shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail view showing the hinge construction.

3,490,l l4 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 FIGURE 7 is an elevational view showing a part of a colfin, with the top closed.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a coffin in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a blank for making a portion of the cofiin top shown in FIGURE 8.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like or corresponding reference numerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a coffin generally designated 10 which is made of fiber board. In particular, the cotfin is made of triple-wall corrugated board, which gives it suitable strength for its intended purpose. The coifin bottom 11 is of generally rectangular configuration, having a bottom panel 12, a pair of side walls 13 and 14 which extend vertically, and a pair of end walls 15 and 16 which also extend vertically and are joined to the side walls 13 and 14. The side walls 13 and 14 and end walls 15 and 16 may be of multiple layers of the triple-wall corrugated board, and are preferaby integral with the bottom panel 12. Battens 17 are utilized to provide suitable anchorage for fastening elements, such as screws, which extend through the various walls. These screws are utilized to hold onto the said walls handle supports 18. As may be seen from FIGURE 3, there are three handle supports 18 along each side wall, and two handle supports 18 along each end wall. There are thereby provided four groups of handle supports, and each group receives a handle bar 19. A 'rotatably mounted latch 21 is provided on the side wall 13.

A domed top 30 is hingedly connected to the bottom 11. Domed top 30, as may be seen in FIGURES 1, 4 and 5, has a pair of parallel side skirt panels 31 and 32 which are in parallel vertical planes when the top is closed. A pair of parallel end skirt panels 33 and 34 are at right angles to the side skirt panels 31 and 32. The domed top 30 includes, as shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, a horizontal generally rectangular top panel 35 having parallel side edges 36 and 37 parallel to the side skirt panels 31 and 32. Top panel 35 also has a pair'of end edges 38 and 39 which are parallel to each other and to end skirt panels 33 and 34. The edges 36-39 of top panel 35 are spaced inwardly from the upper edges of the skirt panels 31-34, which themselves define a rectangle. The positioning of top 35 is such that it is symmetrical with the skirt panels. The upper edges 31' and 32 of side skirt panels 31 and 32 are joined by a pair of sloping panels 41 and 42 with the side edges 36 and 37 of top panel 35. Similarly, as may be seen in FIGURES 3 and 7, the upper edges 33' and 34 of the end skirt panels 33 and 34 are joined to the edges 38 and 39 of top panel 35 by sloping panels 43 and 44, respectively.

The sloping panels 4144 are each trapezoidal in shape, and each has a free side edge which mates with a free side edge of an adjacent sloping trapezoidal panel, these mating side edges being of the same length.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the top 30 may include a brace 46 of wood or the like, shaped to conform to the interior of the top 30. Brace 46 may also be seen in FIGURE 5. Foldable struts, generally designated 47, are pivotally secured to the bottom 11 and top 30, to hold the top in the position shown in FIGURE 1, and also to permit it to fold into the closed position, as may be seen in FIG- URE 5, strut 47 then assumes the angular position indicated therein. The catch 21 on bottom 10 cooperates with a keeper 22 on skirt panel 31 to hold the top 30 in closed position.

As shown in FIGURE 6, a typical hinge 48 has one leaf 49 secured by screws which extend through the two plies of triple-wall board forming the side wall 14 of the bottom 11 and into a batten 17, which is of wood. Similarly,

3 screws extend through the leaf 51 of hinge 48 and into the brace 46.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, there is shown a blank 60 from which the top 30 is erected. Blank 60 has a rectangular central panel 35 with long edges 36 and 37 and short edges 38 and 39, defined by score lines. A pair of isosceles trapezoidal panels 41 and 42 are provided, each having a short base which is common with a long edge 36, 37 of central, panel 35. Trapezoidal panel 41 has contiguous with it a rectangular flap 31 having a common boundary at an edge 31', which is a score line which also defines the long base of trapezoidal panel 41. A similar arrangement is provided for trapezoidal panel 42, including the long base 32 and rectangular flap 32. As is apparent, the rectangular flaps 31 and 32 are each as long as the long bases of the trapezoidal panels 41 and 42. Trapezoidal panel 41 has free side edges 52 and 53 of equal length, and trapezoidal panel 42 has straight free side edges 54 and 55 of equal length, these free side edges extending from the corners of central panel 35.

A second pair of isosceles trapezoidal panels 43 and 44 are provided, each having a short base and a long base, the short base of panel 43 being common with the short edge 38 of central panel 35, trapezoidal panel 44 similarly having its short base common with short edge 39 of panel 35. A rectangular flap 33 is contiguous with the score line 33' defining the long base of trapezoidal panel 43, and a rectangular flap 34 is contiguous with the long base 34' defined by score line denoting the long base of trapezoidal panel 44. Trapezoidal panel 43 has free side edges 56 and 57 of equal length, and trapezoidal panel 44 has free side edges 58 and 59 of equal length. Each of the sides of the trapezoidal panels 41-44 is equal to each of the other sides in length. At the juncture of each of the sides of the trapezoidal panels 43 and 44 with the respective long bases thereof, a score line extends perpendicularly across the rectangular flaps 33 and 34, these score lines being designated 23 and 24, respectively. The rectangular flaps 33 and 34 extend from the outer edge of rectangular flap 32 to the outer edge of rectangular flap 31. It will therefore be seen that the blank 60 is recangular in outline, permitting its ready and economical manufacture on conventional fiber board production machinery.

It will be noted that the free side edges 57 of trapezoidal panel 43 extends from the same corner of central panel 35 as the free side edges 54 of trapezoidal panel. 42; however, these exemplary sides diverge as shown.

In erecting the top 30 from the blank 60, the trapezoidal panels 41-44 are folded in a common direction, so that the sides of these trapezoidal panels meet. The rectangular flaps 33 and 34 are folded at fold lines 23 and 24 so that the end portions of these fiaps are at right angles to the central portions thereof. The rectangular flaps 31-34 are then folded about fold lines 31'34' so that each is in a plane perpendicular to the plane containing central panel 35. The end portions of the rectangular flaps 33 and 34 will extend along the rectangular flaps 31 and 32,

in parallel adjacent relation thereto. The free side edges 7 52, 56, etc. will meet in a butting relationship. The domed top 30 may be maintained in its erected condition by suitable fastening means, such as glue, screws, etc.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, there is shown a cofiin having a domed top of the split type, it thereby being formed of two lid parts 66 and 67, the one being substantially a mirror image of the other. Part 66 of the top of coflin 65, for example, has a vertically extending end wall 68 which has six edges as may be seen from FIG- URE 8. Each of the parts 66 and 67 is provided with a brace 46, to impart the necessary strength and rigidity. Also, the part 66 is provided with two hinges 48 for hingedly connecting it to the bottom 11. The top part 67 may be hinged to the bottom 11. Bottom 11 of FIGURE 8 is subsantially identical to bottom 11 of FIGURE 1,

except that a ditferent arrangement of battens 17 is used, and two latches 21 are provided, rather than one.

The blank 70 shown in FIGURE 9 is utilized for making, for example, the part 66 of the split top shown in FIGURE 8, and it will be understood that a substantially duplicate, mirror image blank is utilized for the part 67. Blank 70 comprises a central rectangular panel having two long edges 136 and 137 and two short edges 138 and 139. Adjacent and contiguous with the short edge 138 is a trapezoidal panel 143 identical to trapezoidal panel 43 of FIGURE 2, panel 143 having free side edges 156 and 157 and a rectangular flap 133 joined to it along base 133', flap 133 being the same as flap 33 in FIG- URE 2.

A right trapezoidal panel 142 comprises a short base common with edge 137 and a long base 132' defined by a fold line. Panel 142 also comprises a perpendicular side and an inclined free side edge 154. A rectangular flap 132 is contiguous with panel 142, at the long base 132' thereof. Flap 132 has a length equal to the long base 132'.

Trapezoidal panel 141 and rectangular flap 31 are mirror images of panels 142 and flap 132, respectively, it being noted that the two perpendicular sides 155 and 153 of right trapezoidal panels 142 and 141, respectively, lie in a common plane. Panel 141 has a free side edge 152.

The construction of the blank 70 to the right of the sides 153 and 155 includes an isosceles trapezoidal panel 144 having free side edges 158 and 159, and a rectangular flap 134 contiguous with the long base 134 thereof. It is noted that the line designated by the numeral 134 is a dotted line, and thus indicates that the line 134' is not a fold line, it being shown merely for convenience of description. The flaps 133 and 134 are provided with score line 123 and 124, respectively.

In the erection of the blank 70, the procedure is as described above in connection with the blank 60, except that the panel 144 and fiap 134 are folded as a unit on fold line 139 so that they are in a common plane perpendicular to central panel 135. They thus form the end panel 68 shown in FIGURE 8, with the end portions of the rectangular flap 134 lying parallel and adjacent to the flaps 131 and 132.

There has been provided a cofiin made of economical material and characterized by a domed top. The domed top, in one embodiment, is made from but a single piece of generally rectangular corrugated fiber board cut and scored on readily available fiber board machinery. The domed top made from the blank can be fabricated with simple too-ls and equipment, and does not require the addition of other fiber board parts.

There has also been provided a domed top cofiin of economical corrugated fiber board of the split type, and comprising but two parts each made from a separate blank. The split-type domed top cofiin may be readily erected from a pair of economical, rectangular blanks which may be fabricated on conventional fiber board machinery.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coflin of fiber board comprising a bottom and a domed top hinged thereto, said top comprising a pair of parallel vertical side skirt panels and a pair of parallel vertical end skirt panels having upper edges defining a rectangle, means joining said end and side skirt panels, a horizontal generally rectangular top panel having a pair of side edges parallel to each other and to said side skirt panels, said top panel having a pair of end edges parallel to each other and to said end skirt panels, said edges of said top panel being spaced inwardly from said edges of sai dskirt panels, a first pair of sloping panels each joined by a fold line with the upper edge of one said side skirt panel and by a second fold line with one said side edge of said top panel, and a second pair of sloping panels each joined by a fold line with the upper edge of one said end skirt panel and by a second fold line with one said end edge of said top panel, each said sloping panel having a free side edge contiguous with a free side edge of an adjacent sloping panel.

2. A cofi'in of fiber board comprising a bottom and a domed top, said top comprising a pair of parallel vertical side skirt panels and a pair of parallel end skirt panels having upper edges defining a rectangle, means joining said end and a side skirt panels, a horizontal generally rectangular top panel having a pair of side edges parallel to each other and to said side skirt panels and a pair of end edges parallel to each other, said side edges of said top panel being spaced inwardly from said edges of said side skirt panels, a pair of sloping panels each joined by a fold line with the upper edge of one said side skirt panel and by a second fold line with one said side edge of said top panel, and a second pair of panels each joined by a fold line to the upper edge of one said end skirt panel and by a second fold line with one said end edge of said top panel each said sloping panels and said last mentioned panels having a pair of free side edges each contiguous with a free side edge of an adjacent last mentioned or sloping panel.

3. The cofiin of claim 1, said top comprising two substantially identical parts in adjacent relationship, each part comprising approximately one-half of said side skirt panels, said top panel and said first pair of sloping panels, together with one said end skirt panel and the sloping panel joined to it.

4. A one-half of a domed cofiin top blank of fiber board comprising, a rectangular central panel having two long and two short edges, a pair of right trapezoidal panels each having a short base, a long base, a straight perpendicular free side edge and an inclined free side edge, the said short bases each being common with a long edge of said rectangular panel, said perpendicular side edges lying in a common plane, a rectangular flap contiguous with the long base of each said trapezoidal panel of a length equal to said long base and having a free outer edge opposite said long base, a pair of isosceles trapezoidal panels each having a short base and a long base, said short bases each being common with a short edge of said rectangular panel, a rectangular flap contiguous With the long base of each isosceles trapezoidal panel and extending from the outer edge to the outer edge of said first mentioned fiaps, the side edges of said trapezoidal panels extending from the corners of said central panel, there being a pair of divergent side edges of equal length at each corner.

5. A one-half of a domed cofiin top blank of fiber board comprising, a rectangular central panel having two long and two short edges, a pair of right trapezoidal panels each having a short base, a long base, a perpendicular free side edge and an inclined free side edge, the said short bases each being common with a long edge of said rectangular panel, said perpendicular sides lying in a common plane, a rectangular flap contiguous with the long base of each said trapezoidal panel of a length equal to said long base and having a free outer edge opposite said long base, a pair of isosceles trapezoidal panels each having a short base and a long base, said short bases each being common with short edge of said rectangular panel, a rectangular flap contiguous with and longer than the long base of each isosceles trapezoidal panel and extending between the outer edges of said first mentioned flaps, the sides of said trapezoidal panels extending from the corners of said central panel, there being a pair of divergent sides of equal length at each corner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 768,481 8/1904 Post 272 1,660,019 2/1928 Tazza 272 2,065,804 12/1936 Guyer 229-3O 2,338,035 12/1943 Gerold 2714 FOREIGN PATENTS 349,464 3/ 1922 Germany.

AD. 25,036 1898 Great Britain.

WILLIAM E. KAMM, Primary Examnier US. Cl. X.R. 2 3 

